Comments on: The future http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:59:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Avi Chapman http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-51271 Avi Chapman Fri, 19 Oct 2007 06:51:29 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/#comment-51271 Sorry - should have said 'their's'. Sorry – should have said ‘their’s’.

]]> By: Avi Chapman http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-51270 Avi Chapman Fri, 19 Oct 2007 06:50:36 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/#comment-51270 Wow. That's some link. That magnetic-centrifugal balance theory of there's is the same one that the flat earth society uses on their website. Wow. That’s some link. That magnetic-centrifugal balance theory of there’s is the same one that the flat earth society uses on their website.

]]> By: Brian C http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-51269 Brian C Sat, 13 Oct 2007 01:27:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/#comment-51269 Ah yes, thank you. I was confusing energy with orbital speed. I'm impressed humans even came up with the idea, really. Oh this is entertaining, someone explains why this is impossible!!! with many exclaimation points!!! Looks like the idea has been around since 2001... <a href="http://www.greatdreams.com/earth_orbit.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.greatdreams.com/earth_orbit.htm</a> Ah yes, thank you. I was confusing energy with orbital speed. I’m impressed humans even came up with the idea, really.

Oh this is entertaining, someone explains why this is impossible!!! with many exclaimation points!!! Looks like the idea has been around since 2001…

http://www.greatdreams.com/earth_orbit.htm

]]> By: Nigel Depledge http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-51268 Nigel Depledge Fri, 12 Oct 2007 15:01:46 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/#comment-51268 Brian C, if the Earth is robbed of some of its orbital energy, it will fall towards the sun, and thus speed up. I know this is counter-intuitive, but the energy of the orbiting body determines the radius of the orbit. Thus, although Venus and Mercury both orbit the Sun faster a than Earth does, they actually possess less orbital energy. The shorter period of their orbits is a function of the distance from the Sun and the relative masses of the two bodies. Thus, to raise an orbiting satellite from low-Earth orbit (typically about 200 - 300 km up) to geosynchronous orbit (about 36,000 km up) requires quite a significant boost, even though the lower orbit has a significantly shorter period (about 90 minutes as opposed to 24 hours). However, I believe that, if the gravitational slingshot is done the other way, the Earth can gain momentum from the asteroid and hence its orbit will widen. Brian C, if the Earth is robbed of some of its orbital energy, it will fall towards the sun, and thus speed up. I know this is counter-intuitive, but the energy of the orbiting body determines the radius of the orbit. Thus, although Venus and Mercury both orbit the Sun faster a than Earth does, they actually possess less orbital energy. The shorter period of their orbits is a function of the distance from the Sun and the relative masses of the two bodies.

Thus, to raise an orbiting satellite from low-Earth orbit (typically about 200 – 300 km up) to geosynchronous orbit (about 36,000 km up) requires quite a significant boost, even though the lower orbit has a significantly shorter period (about 90 minutes as opposed to 24 hours).

However, I believe that, if the gravitational slingshot is done the other way, the Earth can gain momentum from the asteroid and hence its orbit will widen.

]]> By: Brian C http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-51267 Brian C Wed, 10 Oct 2007 04:52:56 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/#comment-51267 Mr. Astronomer, One idea I've found exciting since it was proposed in a paper a few years back was the idea that - by slingshotting a small asteroid past the earth in a controlled way thousands of times over a very long period and thus robbing earth of orbital energy - it would be possible to slowly widen earth's orbit such that it would stay within the sun's habitable zone much longer than otherwise possible. Have you heard of the idea? What do you think? It might seem silly, but I like the idea of Earth hanging around a bit longer than nature intended. Mr. Astronomer,

One idea I’ve found exciting since it was proposed in a paper a few years back was the idea that – by slingshotting a small asteroid past the earth in a controlled way thousands of times over a very long period and thus robbing earth of orbital energy – it would be possible to slowly widen earth’s orbit such that it would stay within the sun’s habitable zone much longer than otherwise possible. Have you heard of the idea? What do you think? It might seem silly, but I like the idea of Earth hanging around a bit longer than nature intended.

]]> By: Pratik Patel http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-51266 Pratik Patel Tue, 09 Oct 2007 20:31:22 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/#comment-51266 We need to start the "Preserve the Earth" fund *right now*! Okay, I stole the idea from Dr. Who ("The End of the World"). But someone needs to pay for those force fields and you can sure as hell bet the UN, Congress, EU etc won't lift a finger. I'll throw down a $20 - anyone else? We need to start the “Preserve the Earth” fund *right now*! Okay, I stole the idea from Dr. Who (“The End of the World”). But someone needs to pay for those force fields and you can sure as hell bet the UN, Congress, EU etc won’t lift a finger. I’ll throw down a $20 – anyone else?

]]> By: barrayaran http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-51265 barrayaran Tue, 09 Oct 2007 18:49:06 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/#comment-51265 Cool. FYI, there's a typo on the +6.9 billion years page -- it should read <i>escape <b>its</b> gravitational pull</i>, not <i> escape it's gravitational pull</i>. Cool.

FYI, there’s a typo on the
+6.9 billion years page — it should read escape its gravitational pull, not escape it’s gravitational pull.

]]> By: Max Fagin http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-51264 Max Fagin Tue, 09 Oct 2007 16:56:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/#comment-51264 S&T ran an interesting article on this topic a few months ago. They talked about how the Earth will probably be ingested by the sun once the sun enters its giant phase. But they also mentioned the possibility that the sun might loose enough mass during its pre-giant tantrums to allow the Earth's orbital radius to increase significantly. This would then allow Earth to survive the sun's post helium burning fits. The Earth would be scorched beyond belief, but the planet itself might survive. How about it BA? What are the odds that the Earth might survive to see the universe go dark, instead of being ingested by our sun? S&T ran an interesting article on this topic a few months ago. They talked about how the Earth will probably be ingested by the sun once the sun enters its giant phase. But they also mentioned the possibility that the sun might loose enough mass during its pre-giant tantrums to allow the Earth’s orbital radius to increase significantly. This would then allow Earth to survive the sun’s post helium burning fits. The Earth would be scorched beyond belief, but the planet itself might survive.

How about it BA? What are the odds that the Earth might survive to see the universe go dark, instead of being ingested by our sun?

]]> By: The Squid Zone http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-51263 The Squid Zone Tue, 09 Oct 2007 16:45:11 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/#comment-51263 <strong>Why are we here?...</strong> Who knows... philosophers have pondered that question for thousands of years. However, we may not know why we're here but have a pretty good idea where we're going, and you can see a little presentation here and it's pretty cool.... Why are we here?…

Who knows… philosophers have pondered that question for thousands of years. However, we may not know why we’re here but have a pretty good idea where we’re going, and you can see a little presentation here and it’s pretty cool….

]]> By: Dave http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-51262 Dave Tue, 09 Oct 2007 15:50:14 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/#comment-51262 awe inspiring! awe inspiring!

]]> By: The Bad Astronomer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-51261 The Bad Astronomer Tue, 09 Oct 2007 15:14:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/#comment-51261 The line about clusters dispersing is wrong, sortof. Over time,. galaxies will either merge or be tossed out of the cluster. But that will take billions of years, and in the meantime the Universe is expanding. This makes things complicated; but skipping about 5 important steps in the explanation, it means that the cosmic horizon -- how far out you can see -- will shrink. For each cluster it will shrink to the size of the cluster itself. So anyone inside the cluster will only be able to see what's left of it, and nothing outside of it. This is weird and confusing, and maybe I'll write it up in a post sometime. I am going to be writing about it for my book in the next few days! The line about clusters dispersing is wrong, sortof. Over time,. galaxies will either merge or be tossed out of the cluster. But that will take billions of years, and in the meantime the Universe is expanding. This makes things complicated; but skipping about 5 important steps in the explanation, it means that the cosmic horizon — how far out you can see — will shrink. For each cluster it will shrink to the size of the cluster itself. So anyone inside the cluster will only be able to see what’s left of it, and nothing outside of it.

This is weird and confusing, and maybe I’ll write it up in a post sometime. I am going to be writing about it for my book in the next few days!

]]> By: elgarak http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-51260 elgarak Tue, 09 Oct 2007 14:37:06 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/#comment-51260 It seems that they forgot that the sun is already burning for 4.5 billion years or so, among other things. But I don't care! They used Jerry Goldsmith's music! Yeah! It seems that they forgot that the sun is already burning for 4.5 billion years or so, among other things.

But I don’t care! They used Jerry Goldsmith’s music! Yeah!

]]> By: Gary Ansorge http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-51259 Gary Ansorge Tue, 09 Oct 2007 13:19:26 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/#comment-51259 10^23 years? Yeah, I should still be around,,, Cool vid! I'm looking forward to your corrections. Hope you don't pull a George R.R. Martin on us(Tales of Fire and Ice). His fifth book has been in the editing process since last year. This is what happens when you become sooo popular you have no time to finish your projects due to public appearances. PLEASE DON'T LET THAT HAPPEN(or DO. That much popularity might be cool, for a science guy,,,) Gary 7 10^23 years? Yeah, I should still be around,,,

Cool vid! I’m looking forward to your corrections.

Hope you don’t pull a George R.R. Martin on us(Tales of Fire and Ice). His fifth book has been in the editing process since last year. This is what happens when you become sooo popular you have no time to finish your projects due to public appearances.
PLEASE DON’T LET THAT HAPPEN(or DO. That much popularity might be cool, for a science guy,,,)

Gary 7

]]> By: Marc Connor http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-51258 Marc Connor Tue, 09 Oct 2007 08:30:29 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/#comment-51258 The vid was great, but it gives me the eerie feeling of having skipped to the end of the book for a peek. I watched an entire semester of Alex Fillipenko's Introduction To Astronomy course at Berkeley thanks to their awesome webcasts (webcast.berkeley.edu - oh so highly recommended). He's such a great and enthusiastic lecturer. Maybe even the best prof I never had. The vid was great, but it gives me the eerie feeling of having skipped to the end of the book for a peek.

I watched an entire semester of Alex Fillipenko’s Introduction To Astronomy course at Berkeley thanks to their awesome webcasts (webcast.berkeley.edu – oh so highly recommended). He’s such a great and enthusiastic lecturer. Maybe even the best prof I never had.

]]> By: RJ http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-51257 RJ Tue, 09 Oct 2007 07:04:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/#comment-51257 This is something I've never understood too well (mostly because I never knew who to ask). But the 10^23 means that in 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 years all the galactic clusters will disperse, what exactly does that mean? Is it that there will be no more galaxies, or they will just be really far apart? And barring distance, what's to keep stars from forming forever? I'm assuming it's because eventually all the hydrogen would be used up, but I'm not sure. This is something I’ve never understood too well (mostly because I never knew who to ask). But the 10^23 means that in 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 years all the galactic clusters will disperse, what exactly does that mean? Is it that there will be no more galaxies, or they will just be really far apart? And barring distance, what’s to keep stars from forming forever? I’m assuming it’s because eventually all the hydrogen would be used up, but I’m not sure.

]]> By: Selina Morse http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-51256 Selina Morse Tue, 09 Oct 2007 06:56:06 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/#comment-51256 That was bloody brilliant. Puts global warming into perspective. That was bloody brilliant.

Puts global warming into perspective.

]]> By: Jennifer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-51255 Jennifer Tue, 09 Oct 2007 06:33:18 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/#comment-51255 Hi Phil! It was fun seeing you tonight, and cool to see some of your work show up in Alex's talk. Let's get together again soon. Meanwhile, get back to work on your book! (And send me the supernova chapter if you want; I'll let you know if it's something I can intelligently comment on, or else suggest someone else -- besides Alex -- who could help.) Hi Phil! It was fun seeing you tonight, and cool to see some of your work show up in Alex’s talk. Let’s get together again soon. Meanwhile, get back to work on your book! (And send me the supernova chapter if you want; I’ll let you know if it’s something I can intelligently comment on, or else suggest someone else — besides Alex — who could help.)

]]> By: Inoculated Mind http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-51254 Inoculated Mind Tue, 09 Oct 2007 05:12:48 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/08/the-future/#comment-51254 <blockquote>In case you’re curious, the music in the vid is from "Total Recall". As a card-carrying scifi movie geek, I have the soundtrack.</blockquote> I have the main theme song, but I want the soundtrack. What else do you have?

In case you’re curious, the music in the vid is from “Total Recall”. As a card-carrying scifi movie geek, I have the soundtrack.

I have the main theme song, but I want the soundtrack. What else do you have?

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